Gear88 said:
A big focus on our path is on stability and safety, especially for newer people. If we try to sacrifice this for faster growth, then it may lead to disaster in certain circumstances. Instead of either assuming or hoping for a working to be positive, it is better to simply program it that way and then focus on channeling enough energy into it.
Creating a stressful situation may lead someone to expend more energy in response, even if they are expecting this. Therefore, it is best usually to not try to purposely add danger into your workings.
Workings by their nature are transformative and you won't lose out on any element of growth simply because it didn't harm you in the process. The only thing you may lose is a degree of energy which is required to avert disaster, but this is generally worth the investment.
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Focusing back on the point of affirmations, which is to channel our intentions, if we assume that positivity is synonymous with complacency, then this is the result we will get. In other words, you do not have to worry about this, because you are focused on "true" positivity, not "false" positivity.
If it helps, you can substitute the word "positive" with the phrase "in the best way", if this helps you focus your intentions and not overthink it.
Nauthiz, of all energies, is going to be the most realistic and focused on discipline, so there is even less concern here. However, the main point is on making proper use of your intentions, rather than thinking the words in the affirmation are doing something other than what you originally intended.
Similarly, Saturn itself will attempt to discipline you if you are creating negative situations, as you have described. It may manifest a situation which makes you very aware and stressed by your complacency, for example.
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I understand that you have a lot of questions about our path, which then hurts your progress. However, these are situations that we have to work through in spite of the limitations in our way.
However, you are not as disconnected or hindered as you may assume. Even a small, but steady, approach to meditation will give you both the experience and sufficient openness to the Gods from which you can derive natural confidence.
Specifically, do the Gods' rituals, which facilitate their energy through you and into the world. Then, meditate on their sigil. This creates the best conditions for them to directly transmit answers into your mind. Furthermore, the effects of this are cumulative, as you further strengthen the connection with them.
If the above is your main concern (getting questions answered) then this would be the way to do it. However, you also need to keep up a simple meditation program to support this, which you are certainly capable of, despite any overthinking or over-analyzing about the practice itself (which is a matter of doing, not thinking).